Catering FAQs for Weddings, Corporate & Private Events

We specialise in bespoke, fully serviced catering and are best suited to clients who value exceptional food, personal service and a professional team to manage their event from start to finish.

If you’re simply looking for the cheapest catering option, we may not be the right fit.

If you want food your guests talk about for months and a team you can trust completely, we’d love to help.

We’re a family-run, multi award-winning catering company with over 40 years of experience.

Everything is prepared fresh, beautifully presented and served by a professional, genuinely caring team.

No generic menus. No bought-in platters. No cookie-cutter packages.

Just thoughtful food, seamless service and events that feel personal.

We are based in South East London and provide catering across:

• London

• Kent

• Surrey

• Sussex

We regularly cater at homes, offices, gardens, marquees and venues of all kinds, from intimate private parties to large corporate events and weddings.

Absolutely.

Salters Events is fully insured and compliant with all UK food safety regulations. We hold:

• Public liability insurance

• Food hygiene certifications

• Professional health and safety processes

Your event is in safe, experienced hands.

We provide bespoke event catering for:

• Weddings

• Corporate events

• Office catering

• Private parties

• Birthdays and anniversaries

• Garden parties and at-home dining

Our menus include:

• Canapés

• Bowl food

• Fine dining

• Sharing style feasts

• Fork buffets

• Grazing boards

• Afternoon tea

• Picnic catering

• BBQ catering

• Sandwich lunches

• Finger buffets

• Breakfast catering

All food is freshly prepared by our chefs and tailored to your event.

Both.

Drop-off catering

Perfect for offices and relaxed gatherings. Food arrives beautifully presented and ready to serve. No staff required.

Serviced catering

Ideal for weddings, corporate functions and special occasions. We provide chefs, waiting staff, set-up and clear-down so you can simply enjoy your event.

Some menus, such as BBQ and fine dining, require on-site chefs and are serviced only.

We’ll advise you on the best option for your event style.

Yes.

Many of our menus are designed for on-site preparation and service, including BBQs, fine dining and live cooking experiences.

We can create a working kitchen in almost any space with access to power and water.

Yes. For serviced events we can provide:

• Chefs

• Front of house staff

• Waiting staff

• Bar staff

• Event coordinators

Our experienced team handles set-up, service and clear-down so you can relax and enjoy the occasion.

Staffing levels are tailored to your guest numbers and service style.

Yes.

We can provide:

• Bar staff

• Glassware and equipment

• Welcome drinks

• Wine service

• Full drinks packages

You’re also welcome to supply your own alcohol if preferred. We’re happy to advise on quantities and service styles.

Yes.

Alongside our savoury menus, we can create:

• Celebration cakes

• Wedding cakes

• Dessert tables

• Petit fours

• Afternoon tea bakes

Everything is made in-house by our chefs for a cohesive, beautifully presented finish.

Yes.

After more than 40 years in events, we’ve built a network of trusted partners including:

• Florists

• Photographers

• Stationery designers

• Equipment hire

• Bars and drinks suppliers

We’re always happy to recommend professionals we know and trust.

We cater for events of all sizes, from:

• Intimate dinners for 10–20 guests
  to

• Weddings and corporate events of 150+ guests

Because everything is cooked fresh and planned in advance, we can scale menus to suit both small private gatherings and larger celebrations.

Yes.

We regularly cater in:

• Marquees

• Gardens

• Homes

• Blank canvas venues

• Outdoor spaces

We can create a temporary kitchen with hired equipment and portable sinks if required.

If there’s power and water, we can make it work.

or many events, yes.

We can arrange everything you might need, including:

• Crockery and cutlery

• Glassware

• Tables and chairs

• Linen

• Bar equipment

• Mobile kitchens

• Portable sinks

We work with trusted hire partners and manage the logistics for you, even in marquees, gardens or unusual venues.

Of course.

All of our catering is bespoke. We’re happy to adapt menus, create themed dishes or design something completely unique to suit your tastes, event style or cultural preferences.

Some highly bespoke requests may incur an additional cost, but we’ll always discuss this with you first.

Yes.

For weddings and larger events, we offer menu tastings once you’ve booked with us so you can experience the food and refine your choices with confidence.

Tastings are a relaxed and enjoyable way to finalise your menu and meet the team who’ll be looking after you on the day.

Absolutely.

We regularly create:

• Vegetarian and vegan menus

• Gluten free dishes

• Dairy free and egg free options

• Halal friendly menus

• Allergy specific meals

Every guest deserves to enjoy great food. We design dietary dishes to be just as exciting and delicious as the main menu, not an afterthought.

Please share requirements in advance so we can plan safely and creatively.

It depends on the style of catering.

As a general guide:

• Canapés only reception: 6–9 per guest

• Canapés + substantial food: 3–5 canapés followed by bowl food, grazing or a main menu

• Bowl food: typically 4 or 8 varieties per guest

• Buffets or sharing menus: designed so guests can enjoy a little of everything

We’ll always recommend quantities based on your timings, guest numbers and appetite level so nobody leaves hungry.

Yes.

For delivery and disposable service we use eco-friendly, compostable and recyclable packaging only, including:

• Palm leaf platters

• Compostable boxes

• Wooden cutlery

• Paper straws

• Recycled napkins

Wherever possible we source locally and work with trusted suppliers to reduce our environmental impact.

Every Salters Events menu is bespoke, so costs vary depending on your guest numbers, menu style, staffing and equipment.

We focus on creating beautifully presented, restaurant-quality food with professional service, rather than standardised or mass-produced catering.

As a result, our events are an investment in quality, experience and peace of mind.

If you share your date and guest numbers, we’ll prepare a tailored proposal that reflects exactly what you need.

Because we provide fresh, chef-prepared food and experienced service staff for every event, some dates and menu styles have a minimum spend, particularly for weekends and weddings.

This allows us to deliver the level of quality and service we’re known for.

For smaller gatherings or weekday events, we can suggest alternative menu formats that may be more suitable.

Yes, we are fully VAT registered caterers.

VAT is charged on all weddings, private events and corporate catering and will always be shown clearly as a separate line on your invoice.

Our VAT number is 441 4855 93.

Popular dates book quickly, especially:

• Summer weddings

• December corporate parties

• Christmas and New Year events

We recommend:

• Weddings: 6–12 months ahead

• Corporate events: 4–8 weeks

• Drop-off catering: a few days to a week

Last-minute enquiries are always welcome and we’ll help where we can.

We recommend as much notice as possible, especially during busy seasons.

As a guide:

• Store / delivery catering: minimum 48 hours

• Bespoke events and weddings: typically at least 1 week or more

Peak summer and wedding dates book quickly, so earlier is always better.

Delivery times are agreed in advance.

For drop-off catering, we usually deliver within a 2-hour window on your chosen day.

For serviced events, delivery and set-up are scheduled around your event timings.

Please note that London ULEZ or congestion charges may apply to some deliveries.

For drop-off catering, simply remove the lids and serve.

For serviced events, we take care of everything from set-up to clear-down. You just show us the space and enjoy your guests.

Simply get in touch with your date, guest numbers and event type.

Email: hello@saltersevents.co.uk
Mobile: 07709 427811

We’ll guide you through the options and create a personalised proposal.